Fixture support



July 4, 1933 s. Nl BUCHANAN 1,916,412

FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed Feb. 29, 1928 I5 Sheets-Sheet l .m `Illllllllll-llilmmmvw 1 lll-dimmumw//f/ Snom/toa STEPHEN N. BUCH/NAN July 4, 1933-s. N. BUCHANAN 1',9l6,'412

FIXTURE SUPPORT Y Filed Feb. 29, 1928 'sneets-sheet 2 i 'www 5mm/nto@ 5TEP/15N N. BUCHANAN @Howe/ao S, N. BUCHANAN FIXTURE SUPPORT July 4,1933.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Fe?. 2,9, 1928 gnou/1to1 STEPHEN MBUCHANAN YPatented July 4, 1933 UNrrEn ,STATES PATENT oFF-ica STEPHEN N. BUCHANAN,on ELIZABETH, NEWJERSEY,v AssreNon To THE 'rHoivrAs & BET'rs co., onELrzaEiitrH, NEW JERSEY, A ooEroEArron or NEW JEEsEY FIXTURE sUrroRT`Application led February 29, 1928. Serial No. 257,904.

This invention relates to electrical outlet box fittings such asfixturesupports to attach lighting fixtures and the like to boxes andconsequently relates to box fittings ordinarily called hickeys and studswhichA together make the fixture support. Box studs and hickeys are used'to install or attach a lighting fixture, lamp or chandelier to a box inelectrical house wiring work, and I have produced what may be called aslip or plugin hickey and stud which are connected together by a slip-inaction7 instead off screw fastening them together as in the old fashionway. t i

The load or weight of the electric lighting fixture is hung from theoutlet box.

chanic approaches the job to hang a lighting fixture. The latter usuallyincludes a fixture stem on the lower end of which is carried theelectric lights or lamp fixture and on the upper end affitting, called ahickey is fastened. The old style hickey is screwed onto the fixturestein before the mechanic ascends his ladder or scanold and hence is notin itself difficult to attach butfit hasbeen the practice for themechanic to have to carry the load of the lighting fixture up the ladderand then feel for and find theythreads of the box stud and then screwthe hickey into the stud, all of which is difficultand tedious work.Furthermore the rotation ofthe lighting fixture to screw the hickey intothe box stud causes the fixture wires. to become snarled up and damaged,especially so when the wires are untwisted by the mechanic who pulls orjerks Vthem out to unravel them.

' :As to the old style hickey mentioned in the foregoing paragraph, thispart is a well known box lfitting including two threaded hickey sleeveends integrally formed on a wire receiving loop. This device is hereincalled a ,hickey because it is thus known to the trade and performs thepurposes of attaching-a fixture stein and hence the lighting fixture toa box and provides an outlet'for the fixture wires which run up throughthe stem to a box B from a lighting fixture (not shown) on the lower endof thestem. My invention provides new and useful-cooperat- Ordi? narilya box stud is on the box when the me ing hickeys and studs as well asnew parts and fittings accessory thereto, wherebythe difficulty longexperienced'inscrewing the upper-'hickeyend to a box stud is entirelyremoved. .j

It is a general object to avoid the difficu'l*V ties and to reduce thelabor and render Vmore convenient the installation of a lighting fixtureand its connection to a box. To this end, I have produced a fixturesupport which includes a novel box stud and hickey so constructedandarranged that a plug-'in or' slip in connection or anchorage iseffected between these two parts and hence between the fixture stemcarrying a lighting xture and the box without making 'a screw fastenedconnection between the hickey and box stud. lt is the elimination ofthisscrew threaded connection'which constitutes an important feature ofthis invention and whichgreatly V simplifies thework. y

A further object is to produce a fixture sup` n from the box studJto-remove the lighting fixture from the wall or ceiling. y

' Another object is to produceV essential adapter means byV whichpresent day old hickeys are refitted or converted to make them slip intomy new box stud, and bywhich the old present day box studs are refittedor converted to make them receive my new hickeys. For the former use Ihavedevised a hickey adapter 'and for the latter use a stud adapter. 'Afurtherobject is to produce several forms of construction in accordancewith the principlesvof this invention and to this end the accompanyingdrawings are presented tor show several examples to meet and fulfill allpossible uses arising between the various types of box fittingsincluding different styles of boxes, fixture studs and hickeys.Accordingly Ihave devised several forms of boxor .fixture studs andhickeys', and I have produced hickey adapter and a box stud adapter-soas to make my inventionusef'ul with many old fittings whicha buildingcontractor may have on hand and hence may use in the box assembly andwhich the lighting fixture contractor may have on hand and hence may usein the lighting .fixture assembly before fixing or installing the latteron the box, Figures 1 through 4 illustrate the first form of theinvention wherein all parts, i. e. my hickey and box stud, are new andare designed so as not to use any old fittings or adapters. Hence inthisform of construction the well known box B is already fitted with mynew box or fixture stud 15 when the workmancomes to install anilluminating fixture.

Figure 1 is a box assembly View in section, showing the new hickeyAplugged into the new box stud,with a conduit attached l.to the boxleading current supply wires thereto.

Figure 2 is a box and stud assembly view in section,- and showing thenew hickey in position ready to be plugged into the new box stud.

hickey anchorage head and socket of the novel box-stud.v j

. Figure 4f shows a plan view of the base or .foot of my new box stud astaken on the line fl-t of Figure 2.

l* igures 45 through 8 show hickey adapter means and illustratethevsecond form of the invention wherein the novelty isr in the boxstudand in a hicley ladapter by which an` sembly, the hickey adapterwith its attached parts being iniposition ready to be plugged into thenew style box stud. Y

Figure 7 shows al perspective view of the hicliey slip-in adapter madein the form of a support plunger. This hickey adapter means enables theworkman to use old style hickeys which he may have on hand with my newstyle box stud and secure all the conveniences of the invention.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the new box adapted to receive the hiclreyadapter shown in Figure 7 and is taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6. Y

. Figures 9 and 10 show a combination of two adapter means andillustrate a third form of the invention wherein an old style box stud50 is converted into a new style socketed box stud by-a stud adaptersleeve 52 and into which the 'hiclrey adapter of Fig- 7 is received thusenabling the workman Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 8-3' ofFigure 1A and hence through the Y novel` to use ankold hickey HS, or bywhich the new in an old hickey is connected to an old box F stud, thisarrangement being brought about by employment of a box stud adapter ofthe general type as shown in Figure 12 and a hickey adapter as in Figure7. A compression spring may be used to remove looseness from all partsafter they are assembled, instead of a lock nut as in the second form.

Figure 10 shows a plan view of an old form of box stud, but which Iconvert to use with my invention by employing a stud adapter 5.2 toreceive `a hickey adapter 38, orto receive the new style hickey 26.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 illustrate a fourth form of the invention whereinmy improved fittings and fixture support ar-e adapted for use on castboxes CB which ordinarily have integral threaded studs 60. For this formof cast box I again use a sleeve stud adapter 61 which screws onto thebox stud and I t-herebyconvert it into asocketed box stud so 'as toreceive a new plugin hickey 26, or to receive my new hickey adapter 88.

vFigure 11 shows the cast box and stud in fragmentary section and a coilspring actuated vlocking plunger is provided to lock the hickey to thebox stud adapter after the parts are connected by a plug-in action.

Figure 12 is a perspective View of the box stud adapter removed from allparts. An adapter of this general form refits an old box stud for usewith my new slip-in hickey to secure all the advantages of thisinvention.

'Figure 13 is a section on'the line 18-18 of Figure 11.l

Figures 14 and 15 illustrate the fifthform l" of the invention whereinmy new slip-in hickey of the first form is slightly modified to providecombined peripheral and longitudinal grooves in the slip-in hea-d of thehickey.

Figure l14 is a box assembly view, the stud and box being in section,and the modified hick-ey being in elevation.

Figure 15 is a View on the line 1.6-1.5 of

Figure 14; showing the engaged box stud socket and hickey head insection'. Y

In accordance with the principles of my invention, I have produced,among other things as above not-ed, two box fitting adapters. J One maybe called abox stu-d adapter and is used to convert the old stylethreaded box stud now in use to one which will receive my novel plug orslip-in hickey. In this way, an old type screw threaded stud may be lefton the .box7 when found so fitted as in old house work, yet the workmanmay use my new slip-in hickey therewith.` The other may be called ahickey adapter and is used to convert the old style two-threaded endedhickey to one which will plug into my novel box stud. In this way, mynew box stud may he left on the box, when found so fitted as in newhouse work,l yet the workman may use up his old hickeys and still effecta slip-in connection. Likewise I have Vproduced a novel box stud whichpreferably shoul-d be fitted to outlet boxes so as to make directconnection with my new slip-in hickey land thus eliminate all necessityfor either type of adapter means.

Electrical house vwiring installations ordinarily embody electric outletsteel boxes B having knock-out openings or holes Il to receive pipes'orconduits P in which cable C runs into Athe box and in which the currentsupply wires W are connected with the fixture wires FIN leading upthrough a fixture stem FS. Cast iron boxes CB are also used for Acertainclasses of work and cable (not shown) is usually connected to this typeof box to supply current to the lighting fixture wires FW. The lower endof the fixture stem FS supports a lighting or lampfixture, say achandelier and encloses the fixture wires FV. It is the usual practiceto provide a hickey L, the lower sleeve end HS invariably being screwthreaded to make connection with and support the fixture stem FS and alighting fixture (not shown) on the lower end of the stem.

The screw thread-ed hickey sleeve lower ends HS are preferably ofsimilar struct-ure throughout the several examples of theinvcntioii,biit vary in size and form for different work. On the otherhand the remaining structural'portions orupper ends of the hickeys L arenew 4and so constructed and arranged as to accomplish new results andeffect a saving of labor on fixture installatio-ns regardless of thecharacter of the box or box stud which may have been installed by thebuilding` contractor, and reo'ardless of the type of hickey, new or old,which the lighting contractor may use; In this way, when the lightingfixture contractor approaches my invention. y

Coming now to a description of the first form of the invention as shownin Figures 1 through l, itinay be remarked that this form includeshickey L the upper end 26 of which is new and adapted to be plugged intoa box stud which is likewise new, and in this respect no old parts areused, and this form of the invention is therefore well suited for newhouse work, where no old electrical work or parts are encountered. Thenovel box stud includes an anchorage base7 plate or foot 15 integralwith a sleeve 1G which provides a' slip-in hickey receiving socket 17.Screws or other means let anchor the stud to the box B in the usual way.rlhis box stud 15-16 may be enlarged at 18 on one side of the sleeve soas to provide a plunger bore 19 for the reception of a locking plungthc.job, he is equipped in all respects to'use er 20 which is slidablyretained in the bore 19 so that the inner end 21 of the plungerprotrudes into the stud sleeve 16.

One end of the locking plunger 2O is made with head or flange b whichthe work@ s Y man with his screw drivel' or by linger action withdrawsthe plunger end 21 from the sleeve socket 17 so as to disconnect theplug-in or slip-in hickey from the box stud 15.' The base or foot 15grooved at 22 above the socket 17 and the plunger head 25 rests wi thinthis groove. A plate spring 23 has one end anc ored at`2l to the boxstud while its other end is flexibly free and normally lies in contactwith the plunger head 25 to maintain the plunger end 21 in ini'iermostlimited position. The plunger end 21 withdrawn from the stud socket 17by` overcoming the seating pressure of the spring 23 which isaccomplished by lifting upward on the plunger head 21.

rlhe bore 19 and locking plunger 2O are vdisposed at an angle to theaxis of the hickey head 26 and stud sleeve 16 which position of theplunger enables an upward entering thrust of the hickey head 26 to push'the locking plunger 20 out of the way or back out of the sleeve, thespring 23 yielding `for this purpose so that the hickey may bc pluggedinto the stud. Furthermore this angular position of the plunger presentsa substantially long or maximum portionthereof to and against the hickeyhead 26 to positively anchor the latter in the stud sleeve 16. Thedownward pressure or pull of the hickey head 26, due to the weight of alighting fixture, tends to firmly engage the'hickey head and lockingplunger one with the other. y The angular interlocking action betweenthe hickey plunger head 26 and the locking plunger 2O is a positive one.y

The-hickey used in connection with this first form of the inventionincludes the usual wire receiving loop L integrally rormed with lowerhickey sleeve HS and this formation HSL in box hickeys aren now in usebut I have improved the upper end of the hickey by adding the slip-inplunger head 2G so as to make a plug-in connection between the hickey Land box stud 15 and hence avoid screwing` the parts together as in thepast.

In this simple change, I have attained a new' mode of action and a laborsaving result without losing' the benefit of the old form of well knownhickey portions HSL which are in themselves well suited to attach to thefixture stem FS and expose the wires FW inthe loop L.

The plug-in hickey head 26 is made with one or more locking` plungerpockets or notches 27 for the reception of the plunger end 21. Thesenotches 27 are disposed about the cylindrical surface of the'slip-inhead 26 and when the workman comes to install the lighting fixtures, hefirst screw connects the hickey sleeve HS onto the fixture stem FS andthereafter` he carries the lighting fixture (not shown) and stem FS withhickey L up a. ladder or scaffold and plugs the hickey head 26 into thesocket 17 of the box stud 15. This installation is accomplished Withoutscrewing the hickey L to the box stud 15 which is ordinarily the way thework has been accomplished in the past.

The old method of screwing a hickey to a box stud, say of the old typeof stud shown at 50 in Figure 9 or at 60 in Figure 11, is laborious inthat the workman is required to carry the weight of the lightingfixture, some times very massive7 up on a ladder and rotate the lightingfixture and supporting stem FS until thesame is screw fastened to thestud 50 or 60 and box which has always been. an arduous task in view ofthe fact that oneniust locate and start the threads between the oldstyle hickey and old style box stud. Furthermore the old method usuallyresults in twisting or snarling up the fixture wires Fl/V so4 that afterthe work of screwing the fixture stem S into the box stud isaccomplished it is then necessary for the workman to unwrap the wiresthereby damaging the insulation.

In the drawings, the fixture wires FIN and the lead-in wires W are shownas being of somewhat short length but as a matter of fact they are leftlon@` in actual practice so that the electrician may make soldered andwrapped connections onv the outside of the box B and he then pushes themup in the unobstructed portions of the box. However, by adoption of myinvention this task of screw threading the stem FW into the box assemblyas well as unwrapping the twisted up wires is avoided. Manifestly agreat deal of time is thus saved which reducesthe labor cost in that theworkman simply makes a quick slip-in connection between the fixture stemFS and the box B.

Coming next to a description of the second form of the invention shownin Figures 5 through 8, provision is here made for the use of old stylehickeys HSL with a new type box stud 30 similar in many respects to thebox stud already described in the first form. In this second form, thereis shown in Figure 7 what may be called a hickey adapter which I havedevised for affording a kplug-in connection between the old hickey HSLand new box stud or 15. In this way the mechanic may use up the supplyof old hickeys on hand with the newbox stud assembly when the latter isused in the building.

To the box B is attached the box or fixture stud 30 in the usual way asby screws 14. The stud 30 includes a sleeve 31 and a locking plungerbore 32 is formed at an angle in the sleeve so that a locking plunger 33will slide up and down in the sleeve. head or flange 34; is made on oneend 'of the locking plunger 33 and the other end ofthe plunger projectsinto the inside of the stud sleeve 3l. TheA upper open end of the bore32 proximate the plunger head 34 is peaned over at 35 to prevent theplunger 33 from dropping out. The indent or peaned portion 35 coactswith a fiat surface 36 formed on the plunger 33 to slidably retain thesame in the i sleeve 31. This locking plunger 33 drops into place by itsown weight and protrudes inside the sleeve 31.

The hickey adapter comprises a smooth plug-in plunger head upper end 38with a threaded anchorage lower end 39. Locking pockets or notches 40are formed in the surface of this adapter 38 and are engaged by thelower end of the locking plunger 33 or 21 when .the adapter head 38 isslipped into the stud sleeve 31. The screw threads 39 of the hickeyadapter attaches to the old type hickey L both ends of which are screwthreaded at HS since it has been the practice in the past to screwfasten one end of this hickey L to the fixture support FS and the otherend HS to an old style box stud fastened within an outlet box. Each endof the old hickey L is no more than a mere sleeve HS so designated toindicate the old type of hickey ends, which however may be used with myimproved box parts simply by the employment of the hickey adapter 38.

v A lock nut 42 is screwed onto the hickey adapter end 39 and istightened against the lower end ofthe stud sleeve 31 after the parts areassembled. By tightening the lock nut l2 it follows that the hickeyadapter head 38 is forced into tight engagement with the locking plunger33 thereby removing all play existing in the parts so that finalanchorage is effected. and no looseness may develop.

Describing the third form of construction in Figures 9 and 10, I havedevised an adapter combination which permits the use of old box studsand old hickeys. In this respect the structure in the third formconstitutes a distinct advantage in that all old fittings may be usedbut at the same time the mechanic on the job is saved the difiiculty ofscrew fastening the fixture stem FS to the box B by the old process ofrotating the stem FS and lamps hanging on the lower end thereof whileworking on top of the ladder or scaffold.

The box B is here shown as being fitted with an old form of box stud 50carried on a foot plate 51 and secured to the box in any approvedmanner. In some box installations the building contractor may have usedthis old type of box stud 50, and at the same time the lighting fixturecontractor may desire to avail himself of the advantages of thisinvention and yet may himself be supplied with old hickey parts. Evenso, I have provided in this situation a novel stud adapter in the formof ay sleeve 52 screwthreaded at one end to fasten it to the old stylebox stud 50 and open at' the other end to eect a plugin connection withthe hickey adapter 38 or with the new style hickey L26if the latter isavailable for use. In either case, the lower end HS of either type ofhickey, old or new, is screw fastened to a fixture stem FS and upthrough which the fixture wires FV are lead toward the box B.

Instead of using the lock nut 42 heretofore described as in the secondform, I here employ a compression spring 53 carried on the hickeyadapter 38 between the lower end of the stud adapter sleeve 52 and thehickey sleeve HS which snaps or presses all the play out of the partswhen the slip-in connection is made. A. locking plunger 33 is carriedwith the stud adapter 52 Vto lock the hickey adapter 38, with all partscarried thereon, to the stud adapter 52 and hencev the stem FS to thebox. My new stud adapter 52 therefore converts the old box stud 50 toone which is in effect socketed so as to receive a hickey head whetherof the integral kind'shown atv 26 or a separate adapter shown at 3S.

By combining the two adapters 38 and 52, the old box stud and old hickeyare converted to .simpler uses.

Coming to the fourth forni of the invention as shown iii Figures 1l, l2and 13,4

special provision is made' for adapting my improvements Ato old stylecast boxes CB which are provided with a cast hxture stud 66. Ordinarilyit is the practice to use an old style hickey I-IS screw fastened to theold cast box stud 60, the disadvantages of which have been explained andthe elimination of \.\'liich is now made possible by working inaccordance .with the principles of this invention Yand adapting theparts supplied thereby.

In working with the old cast boxes CB, and aside from the preciseillustration of Figure l1, vthe mechanic in fact may vuse the hickeyadapter 38 of Figure 7 so as to at aclithe old hickey IIS to the box CBwhich the reader may well iiiiagi-ne by reference to the second formFigure 5 or third form Figure 9 of the invention, since indeed I haveprovided a box stud adapter 6l which will receive and lock the hickeyadapter 38 thereinto. The coinliiiiation of both types of adaptersl 38and 6l or 2 fulfill many uses and requirements.

In this fourth forni, the newA style slip-in hickey 26 isl similar to ormay be the saine F as the first form shown in Figure l, and I haveprovided a stud adapter in the form of a sleeve 6l threaded at one endand open at the other end to receive the hickey plunger head 26. Thisadapter sleeve 61 is fitted with an angularly disposed locking plunger62 which is urged to seated position by a coil spring 63 mounted betweenan integral ear 64 and the head or flange 65. This spring 63 holds thelocking plunger 62 against and in one of the hiokey pockets 27 so thatit is anchored in the sleeve 61 against-.rotation and against removalexcept by withdrawal of the-plunger 62.' .y w

The fixture stem FS and hickey L26 are first screw fastened together andthe head 26 of the latter is plugged into the adapter sleeve 6l, thelocking plunger 62yielding 11pwardly to permit the hickey head 26 toenter the sleeve, whereupon the mechanic rotates the stem FS until oneof the pockets 27 is en-` gagcd by the lower end of the plunger62. Thefixture stern and box assembly is now completed and is effectedwithout-laboriously screw fastening the hickey to the box stud In thefifth formlof'theinvention in Figures 14- and l5 there is shownastructure which is similarin some respects to the first forni in Figurel. However a ,box stud 70 is made with a hickey receiving socket 71 toreceive a hickey head 72, the latter being formed if desired withplunger locking pockets 7 3 joining i a peripheral locking groove 74.Vith this form of construction the mechanic simply plugs the hickey head72 into the stud socket 7l and is not required torotate the stem F P tohunt one pocket 73 since indeed the groove 74 instantly catches thelower end of p a locking plunger 75. Neyeitheless Ima-y provide lockingplunger pockets 7 3 to stop undue or accidental turnine of a lampfixture carried on the lower end of the stem FS. l

In general, it is now clear to the reader that supply means by which theadvantages of this inventionare attainedregardless of what' character ofbox or box stud isencountered. The first form of my invention is largelyused for new and original house work. f The secondV form is used foreither since I show a box assembly which comprises the new box and studassembly but an old In the main, my new box stud comprises a receptaclesocket to receive the plug-iii head of the hickey, and the socket andhead are preferably cylindrically-shaped parts and are easilymanufactured and fitted together.

The cooperating cylindrically-shaped parts.

are smooth surfaced. The locking device possesses a bolt action,automatic in function when a spring is used as at23 or 63, so by merelyplugging the hickey head into a stud socket, the two parts areautomatically locked together because the spring actuated' lockingplunger instantly returns and snaps into one of the Y pockets orratchets in the plug-in hickey head.

According to my novel'principles involved inthe production of box studs,as suggested by all forms, the stud is carried by the box, separatelyattached4 or integral therewith, and takes the form of. sleeve-likemeans into which a plunger-like device is plug connected and thisplunger carries the hickey and fixture stem.

Throughout all examples ofthe invention, the bolt-action lockingplungerfis similar in mode of operation to a spring pressedV dog sincethe plungersQO, 3?), 62 and 75 ratchet and lock against the ratchetdetents 27 and 40 formed in the hickeyhea'ds.A Any suitable resilientspring means may be used to actuate vthe locking bolt or dog and thespring' is preferably placed outside of the hickey receiving socket ofthe box stud;

What is claimed is: l. A fixture support',comprising, in combi nation, ahollow fixture stud and means to cure same to an outlet box, a hickeycarrying a slip-in head which plugs into the fixture stud, means forlocking the head in the vstud when plugged together, and means carriedby one of the parts of the support and exerting a force against the studtending to withdraw the head from the stud and serving to accentuate theaction of the locking means.

i2. A fixture support comprising, in combination, a hollow fixture studand means to secure saine to `an outlet box, a hickey carrying a slip-inhead with plugs into the fixture stud, means for locking the `head inthe stud when plugged together, andV a nut threaded upon the slip-inhead and engaging the end of the hollow stud thereby exerting a forceagainst the stud tending to withdrawthe head from the stud and servingto accentuate the action of the locking means.

4f. A fixture support comprising, in combination, a hollow fixture studforming a socket andmeans closing one end of the socket and securingthestud to a box, a groove in the securing means yabove the socket, a platespring secured at one end in the groove and l the other end beingflexibly free, and a locking plunger slidably mounted in the fixturestud -and having one end projecting into the socket while the other endengaged by the flexibly free spring end.

5. A fixture support comprising, in combination, a hollow fixture studforming a socket, and means closing one end of the socket and securingthe stud to a box, a groove in the securing means above theI socket, aplate spring secured one end in the grooveand the other end beingflexibly free, a locking plunger slidably mounted in the fixture studand having one end projecting into the socket while the other end isengaged by the flexibly free spring end, and means carried by one of theparts of. the support and exerting a force against the stud tending toWithdraw the head from the stud and serving to accentuate the action ofthe locking means.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature.

STEPHEN N. BUCHANAN.

